Upstate, SC [November 21, 2013] – The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport has been selected as the 2013 recipient of the Welling Award for Collaboration, which is presented by Ten at the Top (TATT) in honor of the organization’s founding chairman Irv Welling.

Welling presented the award to Dave Edwards, President and CEO of the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport at the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Regional Forum on November 19th.

The Welling Award is given to recognize individuals, businesses, or organizations whose actions have demonstrated a sustained commitment and effort to developing and fostering regional collaboration(s) that work strategically to make the Upstate one of the best places to live, learn, do business and raise a family.

“The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport was started more than 50 years ago as a result of regional collaboration and has grown into such an important component of our region because it continues today to be a great example of regional partnerships,” Welling said.

Ten at the Top is a regional collaboration organization focused on promoting collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate on issues that impact economic vitality and quality of life in the ten-county region. Welling served as chairman of Ten at the Top from its founding in 2005 through 2011.

Upstate, SC [November 20, 2013] – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, has announced the recipients for the first-ever Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.

There were five finalists chosen from a total of 30 applications that were submitted for the two grants available in 2013. Hughes Investments is contributing $10,000 per year over the next five years to the program with two recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate.

During the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Forum on November 19th the five finalists provided a brief overview of their initiative. After all presentations were given, Phil Hughes, President of Hughes Investments and a member of the Ten at the Top Community Vibrancy Task Force, announced the two recipients of the grants.

The recipients are:

City of Anderson – Transforming utility and traffic signalization boxes and crosswalks into public art based around the book “Little Wren Lost and the Teakettle Call.”

City of Greer Parks and Recreation – Greer: An International Destination Festival will be a one-day event in Downtown Greer as part of Upstate International Month. The festival is scheduled for March 29, 2013.

Phil Hughes then surprised the attendees by announcing a third grant recipient for 2013.

“I was absolutely amazed by the number of great ideas submitted for the program. It was a real challenge to narrow the field from 30 applications to five finalists, to two winners”, said Hughes. “In fact, we couldn’t, so I am pleased to announce a third recipient.”

The third recipient is:

Blue Ridge Arts Council – “3 Part Public Art” project includes murals, custom and hand built street furniture and interactive sculptures in downtown Seneca.

“The Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants are a great opportunity to provide seed funds to help communities increase the vibrancy and sense of place within their community,” said Ten at the Top Executive Director Dean Hybl. “Phil Hughes has been a great champion of the community vibrancy task force since the beginning and the idea for the grant program was his. That he took it up a notch by announcing a third recipient just speaks to his commitment to the region and to the value growing vibrancy can have for communities in the Upstate.”

Upstate, SC– Ten at the Top, an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, will focus the fourth and final Our Upstate Vision Forum of 2013 on celebrating successes in the Upstate. The forum, which is free and open to the public, is being held from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at the Embassy Suites (670 Verdae Boulevard Greenville, SC 29607). A networking reception will immediately follow the forum.

The overall theme for the 2013 Forum Series is “Destination 2030: Thinking BIG and BOLD About the Future of the Upstate.” Each forum will focus on a different topic and look at short, middle and long term opportunities that can help ensure that the Upstate in 2030 is universally recognized as a leader in that particular area. During this forum, we will celebrate the successes and great things happening in the Upstate.

While it is critical to continue looking at areas where we must continue to work to make the Upstate an even better place for generations to come, it is also important that we take opportunities to recognize and understand some of the great things from our past and that are happening today in our region.

The forum will also include recognition of companies and organizations celebrating milestone anniversaries (20 years or more) in 2013. Ten at the Top will announce the first recipients of the Elevate Upstate Grants. The five finalists will give a short presentation about their project and what it will do for the community they represent.

The Our Upstate Vision Forum Series began in 2012 with TATT hosting four forums across the Upstate. The series continues in 2013 with BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina serving as the Series Premier Sponsor.

There is no cost to attend the forum, but attendees are asked to register in advance at www.tenatthetop.org. Registration deadline is November 18th. For more information contact Ten at the Top at 864.283.2313.

Upstate, SC – Ten at the Top (TATT), an organization created to foster collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning across the Upstate, has announced the finalists for the first-ever Hughes Investments Elevate Upstate Community Vibrancy Grants.

The five finalists were chosen from a total of 30 applications submitted for the two grants available in 2013. Hughes Investments is contributing $10,000 per year over the next five years to the program with two recipients each year receiving $5,000 to support a new vibrancy initiative in the Upstate.

The program was announced earlier this year in conjunction with the Community Vibrancy Workshops conducted by Ten at the Top across the Upstate. The workshops showcased examples from across the state and nation of communities that have created innovative programs to enhance community and economic vibrancy.

“The goal of the Elevate Upstate program is to get communities thinking about what types of initiatives or programs might help spark vibrancy within their area and then provide some seed money to get some of them started,” said Hughes Investments President Phil Hughes. “I was absolutely amazed by the number of great ideas submitted for the program. It was a real challenge to narrow the field from 30 excellent applications to five finalists.”

During the Our Upstate Vision/Ten at the Top Forum on November 19th the five finalists will each provide a brief overview of their initiative before the two 2013 recipients are announced. The forum is free and open to the public and will be held from 3-5 pm at the Embassy Suites in Greenville.

Here are the five finalists:City of Anderson – Transforming utility and traffic signalization boxes and crosswalks into public art based around the book “Little Wren Lost and the Teakettle Call.”Town of Calhoun Falls – Lighting project in the Blue Hole Recreational Area on Lake Russell.Greenville County Parks, Recreation and Tourism – Swamp Rabbit Trail Mural project.City of Greer Parks and Recreation – “Greer: An International Destination Festival” would be a one-day event in Downtown Greer as part of Upstate International MonthBlue Ridge Arts Council – “3 Part Public Art” project includes murals, custom and hand built street furniture and interactive sculptures in downtown Seneca.
The selection committee for the Elevate Upstate Grants Program includes Phil Hughes (President, Hughes Investments), Betsy Fleming (President, Converse College), and Terence Roberts (Mayor, City of Anderson).